Picture-frame



A. WALAS.

PICTURE FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14. 1919.

' Patented June 8, 1-920.

UNITED STATES PAINT @FFICE.

ANTONI WALAS, or onica'eo, ILLINOIS.

PICTURE-FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, .1920.

Application filed August 14, 1919. Serial No. 317,495.

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, AN'roNI WALAS, a citizen of Poland, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PictureFrames, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a picture frame embodying an improved swinging back closure that is adapted for engagement with the glass positioned in the frame resiliently holding the same in its proper position in the frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of picture frame in which the swinging back thereof carries a resiliently mounted pad section adapted for engagement with the frame glass for holding the same properly posi tioned.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a picture frame constructed in accordance with the present invention, the horizontal back thereof being swung to open position and partially broken away,

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken centrally and transversely of the frame shown in Fig. 1 with the cover closed,

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2 showing a portion of the spring for resiliently connecting the glass engaging plate to the hinged back, and

Fig. 4; is a top plan view of a portion of the hinged cover with parts thereof broken away to show the flat curved springs for resiliently supporting the glass engaging plate.

Briefly described, the present invention aims to provide a picture frame of any desired design in which there is provided a hinged back cover having a relatively large central section resiliently supported thereby for direct engagement with a glass plate received in the frame whereby the glass plate is resiliently supportedtherein and capable of slight movement relative to the frame so that the danger of breaking the glass by acrially decreased.

Referring more in detail to the accompanyingndr-awing, the reference numeral 5 designates a picture frame of any preferred design, the one shown being rectangular in plan view with a relatively large central opening 6 over which a glass plate 7 is adapted to be positioned with the edges thereof supported on the adjacent portions of the frame surrounding the openings.

The rear face of the frame 5 has secured thereto a pair of superposed frame members 8 and 9 surrounding the opening 6 and spaced therefrom, the glass 7 in being supported on the member 5 having its edges arranged adjacent the inner sides of the frame member 8.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 1, a cover 10 is hinged at one end as at 11 to the frame member 8 at one end thereof, the cover being in the form of a rectangular frame having an enlarged central opening 12 shown more clearly in Fig. 2 with a depending flange 13 surrounding the opening, the flange terminating inwardly of the opening at a'point spaced from the inner wall of the frame member 8. A plate 141 is resiliently carried by the cover 10 and extends from the central opening 12 as well as com-. pletely filling the space between ',the inner walls of the frame member 8, the resilient connection including a fiat curved spring 15 alternately passing beneath retaining pins 16 carried by the cover 10 and the plate 14, the springs being arranged in the spaces between the flanges 13 and the inner walls of the member 8. A felt strip 17 is adhesively secured to the inner face of the frame 10 while a felt strip 18 is similarly carried by the cover plate 14 so that when the cover 10 moves on the hinges 11' the framework of the cover 10 will be supported on the adjacent face portion of the frame member 8 while the plate 14 carrying the felt member 18 directly engages the glass plate 7 in the frame 5. The tension of the springs 15 will cause the plate 14 to resiliently engage the glass '7 and to hold the glass under proper tension, the cover is retained in closed posibe permitted to move slightly relative thereto so that accidental jarring of the picture frame will not cause the glass to break -but such shocks will be absorbed by the springs 15 as will be evident. Also, with this arrangement, fastening devices such as nails less to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the same as claimed.

What is claimed as new is The combination with a picture frame having a glass plate loosely supported therein, and a hinged back, of a plate carried by the hinged back, flat springs resiliently connecting the plate to the back with the plate positioned for engagement with the glass plate. V

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

- ANTONI WALAS. 

